A make contact system for high-voltage applications includes a vacuum switching tube having two switch contacts in the form of plate contacts, of which at least one is a moving contact coupled to a drive. At least one plate contact is rotationally symmetrically surrounded by a shielding element, and the shielding element has an electric conductivity which is less than 40×10.sup.−6 S/m.

A vacuum circuit breaker includes a vacuum circuit breaker tube having a vacuum housing in which a contact system is disposed. The contact system includes two contacts which are movable relative to one another. An electrical pre-arcing unit having an ignition electrode in the vacuum housing is provided for igniting an arc along an arc current path.

An assembly and a method for damping contact bounce in high-voltage circuit breakers include a vacuum interrupter and a holder for the vacuum interrupter. The vacuum interrupter includes a housing, at least one movable contact piece and at least one fixed contact piece. At least one mass body is mechanically connected to the at least one fixed contact piece in order to effect damping of the contact bounce between the at least one fixed contact piece and the at least one movable contact piece during a switch-on operation of the high-voltage circuit breaker.

A shield element for a vacuum interrupter for installation between an electrically conductive wall element and an electrically insulating wall element of a vacuum interrupter includes a connection region, a shield inner region and a shield outer region. The shield outer region can be disposed outside of and the shield inner region can be disposed within the vacuum interrupter. The connection region has a first structure and a second structure which prevent the formation of mechanical stresses after soldering of the vacuum interrupter. A vacuum interrupter, a method for producing a shield element and a method for producing a vacuum interrupter are also provided.

A vacuum circuit breaker capable of efficiently dissipating heat generated in a vacuum valve includes a movable side contact and a fixed side contact which are arranged in the inside of the vacuum valve; a fixed side energization shaft to which the fixed side contact is fixed; a movable side energization shaft to which the movable side contact is fixed; an energization connection portion provided at a position where the movable side energization shaft protrudes from the vacuum valve; and a coupling body provided at the outside tip portion of the movable side energization shaft. The coupling body at the outside tip portion of the movable side energization shaft is coupled to an insulation operating rod.

Various embodiments include an insulator arrangement for a high-voltage or medium-voltage assembly comprising an axially symmetrical insulating structure element having two annular base regions separated from one another by an annular blocking region. The relative permittivity of the material of the blocking region is at least twice as high as the relative permittivity of the material of the base region.

A double-contact switch includes: a first and second tubular vacuum switching chamber formed as partial switching chambers of a switching tube; an electrode fixed in the switching tube and arranged between the first and second vacuum switching chambers and having a first fixed contact projecting into the first vacuum switching chamber and a second fixed contact projecting into the second vacuum switching chamber; a first electrode arranged in the first vacuum switching chamber and movable within the first vacuum switching chamber in an axial direction thereof, the first electrode having a region which bears a contact and is closed off in a gastight manner relative to an exterior of the first vacuum switching chamber; a second electrode arranged in the second vacuum switching chamber and movable within the second vacuum switching chamber in an axial direction thereof, the second electrode having a region which bears a contact.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising a vacuum interrupter (12) coupled between upper (18) and lower (20) terminals and being operable to make or break an electrical connection between the upper and lower terminals. The circuit breaker has a body 22 formed from electrically insulating material, the vacuum interrupter being located in an internal chamber of the body. The circuit breaker body is arranged to provide an isosceles triangle between the upper (C) and lower (A) terminal connection interfaces. This allows the same design of both upper and lower external connectors 80, 82. A pulling rod (16) coupled to the vacuum interrupter comprises a core (70) of heat-resistant plastic co-moulded with a shell (72) formed from impact resistant plastic.

A vacuum circuit breaker 10 comprising a vacuum interrupter 12 coupled between upper 18 and lower 20 terminals and being operable to make or break an electrical connection between the upper and lower terminals. The circuit breaker has a body 22 formed from electrically insulating material, the vacuum interrupter being located in an internal chamber of the body. The lower terminal 20 comprises a hollow body 26 that forms part of the internal chamber and which is shaped and dimensioned to allow the vacuum interrupter 12 to pass through it. An electrical connector device 50 has a movable part 52 that is connected to the movable contact and an annular fixed part 54 that is connected to the lower terminal 20. The movable part 52 is connected to the first part 54 by flexible connectors 56, and has a socket (58) for engaging an electrical connector 60 of the vacuum interrupter 12. A pulling rod 16 is coupled to the movable contact via the electrical connector 60.

A vacuum interrupter according to the present invention includes: a vacuum container formed by two insulation containers each having an opening at one end thereof, the openings being opposed to each other; a pair of electrodes provided inside the vacuum container; and an arc shield having a contamination preventing portion surrounding the electrodes, and projections projecting in a direction along an outer circumferential surface of the contamination preventing portion, the arc shield being positioned by the projections being engaged with the openings.